Beamshaper for optical head

ABSTRACT

An optical head of a type useable in a optical disk reader/writer is provided. One of the optical elements is provided in a fashion that one or more optical parameters or characteristics of the system are invariant, regardless of whether the one optical element is used, or not. In one embodiment the optical element is a beamshaper. In order to provide the desired invariant property, the surfaces of the optical element are preferably formed with high accuracy. One manner of economically achieving high accuracy is to measure errors or imperfections in a first formed, preferably etched, surface and adjust the shape or position of a second aligned etched surface so as to at least partially compensate for the errors or imperfections.

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/540,657, filed Mar. 31, 2000 (attorney file number 4154-9-CIP) which is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 09/457,104 (attorney file number 4154-9) filed Dec. 7, 1999, both incorporated herein by reference. Cross reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,398 entitled Removable Optical Storage Device and System, filed May 20, 1999, further identified as Attorney Docket 4154-1, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/527,982 filed Mar. 17, 2000 which claims priority in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/140,633 entitled Combination Mastered and Writeable Medium and Use in Electronic Book Internet Appliance, filed Jun. 23, 1999, further identified as Attorney Docket 4154-2-PROV all incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention is related to an optical head, e.g., for use in reading from and writing to an optical disk and in particular to an optical head wherein a beamshaper may be provided without substantially changing a virtual beam source point, or one or more other optical parameters.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0003] Optical read/write devices, as with many complex optical devices, commonly include a plurality of different optical elements along an optical path which can affect characteristics of the beam which travels along the optical path. For example, depending on the design and configuration of the device, the optical path may include one or more lenses or other refractive elements, holograms, gratings or other diffractive elements, flat or shaped mirrors and the like. Each element in an optical path can change one or more optical characteristics of the beam and/or may influence the manner in which other, “downstream” optical elements influence the beam. The resultant multiple optical characteristics and interactions of the various elements often results in a optical system which is difficult, time-consuming and expensive to design, test, fabricate and the like. For this reason, creating multiple different optical path designs, or making modifications in an optical path design is not done lightly or easily, especially for complex optical devices such as an optical read/write device.

[0004] In addition to the cost of designing complex systems, there are also costs associated with maintaining stocks or inventories of components needed to fabricate two or more different systems, costs associated with designing devices and/or training personnel for assembling two or more different devices, maintaining or repairing two or more different systems and the like.

[0005] Previous approaches to optical read/write devices have typically involved a choice between either foregoing the anticipated or potential advantages that might arise from a new or modified design (in order to avoid certain costs), or undertaking the costs associated with a new or modified design in hopes that the costs for the new or modified design will be justified by technical, marketing, manufacturing or other advantages arising from the new or modified design. Unfortunately, because of the complexity of optics in general and interactions between optical components, it is often infeasible to accurately determine the cost for a new or modified design, or the advantages associated with a proposed new or modified design, in advance. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a method, system and apparatus which can provide for one or more changes in the optical design, such as adding or changing a first element along an optical path of a read/write device (or other optical device) while reducing or substantially eliminating the changes in at least some optical parameters or characteristics of other optical elements in the optical path (or how such other elements affect the beam). By reducing or eliminating influences on, or changes in operation of other optical elements (for at least some optical parameters) it is possible to reduce or avoid the need for redesigning other optical elements in the system, as a consequence of changing, adding or redesigning one (or a group) of optical elements, and thus reducing the overall cost associated with a design change or modification. By reducing the cost of system design change or modification, as well as by reducing the uncertainty in estimating the cost (since a smaller number of components need to be changed, modified or added) it becomes more feasible to develop multiple or modified optical path designs which can be useful both during product or system development (e.g., permitting parallel development of two or more different options for a design) and/or for accommodating two or more different potential component vendors, sources, component characteristics and the like.

[0006] In one situation, it may be desirable to perform parallel development on a design which includes a beamshaper and second design which does not include a beamshaper. For example, in a system which provides laser (or other) light to an objective lens (as described below) for addressing an optical disk or similar medium, it may be possible to achieve a desired light intensity profile at the objective lens by “overfilling” the lens (and “spilling” the relatively lower-intensity light at the perimeter of the beam). On the other hand, this technique can result in spilling or wasting a substantial amount of the total laser (or other light source) output, requiring a higher-power source in order to achieve desired intensity (or intensity profile) as delivered to the medium. Higher-power laser devices or other sources may be not only more expensive but may lead to certain secondary costs or effects such as costs of a larger power supply and/or a need for dissipating a greater amount of heat. Accordingly, it may be useful to include a beamshaper which can assist in delivering the desired intensity (or intensity profile) to an objective lens, without the need for overfilling the lens, e.g., by “circularizing” or otherwise changing the beam cross-sectional shape and/or by changing the beam (cross-sectional) intensity profile. In many situations, it may be infeasible to know, in advance, which option is preferable. However, it may be economically infeasible to create two or more completely different optical path designs (i.e., modifying all or substantially all optical elements in the optical path), especially given the complex interaction between optical components, even though only one of the designs is likely to be ultimately used. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide a method, system or apparatus for an optical read/write device (or other optical device) in which the operation or nature of a plurality of elements along the path, and/or the magnitude or nature of at least some optical parameters of the beam, is substantially unchanged regardless of whether the optical path includes a beamshaper or does not include beamshaper. In this way it would be possible to, e.g., design an optical path which did not include a beamshaper, and yet have the ability to insert a beamshaper, if that option is ultimately desired, while reducing or eliminating the need for redesigning other (non-beamshaper) elements or aspects of the optical path.

[0007] The usefulness and/or need for a beamshaper in an optical path of the type described above can be, at least in part, dependent on the characteristics of the laser or light source. Not uncommonly, batches of lasers, as delivered, may have a substantial amount of variability in the characteristics of the output light. Thus, in a manufacturing context, even within a single batch or delivery of laser devices, there may be some which operate best in a system without a beamshaper and others which operate best with (or require the use of) a beamshaper. In previous approaches, typically it was necessary to either undertake the costs of completely designing or modifying the optical path, to produce two completely different designs (i.e., changing or modifying all or substantially all components in the optical path), one for use with lasers that require a beamshaper, and another for use with remaining lasers, or to select one of the designs with the knowledge that a number of lasers (or other light sources) in any order or batch will need to be discarded or otherwise disposed of. Accordingly, it would be useful to provide an optical system which is substantially the same in all or nearly all non-beamshaper components, regardless of whether a beamshaper is present, or not. In this way, it is feasible to use substantially all lasers (or other light sources) in an order or batch, but without incurring costs needed for developing two completely different optical paths.

[0008] A number of optical reader/writer devices, including, for example, relatively large devices such as audio compact disk (CD) players in a typical home stereo system, present relatively little concern with power management or power budgets (typically having access to AC line level power or the like). As a result, in many such systems, it is feasible to provide an optical design which is relatively inefficient of optical power (such as by substantially overfilling lenses and the like, e.g. to accommodate noncircularity of laser sources). In contrast, devices such as those described in application Ser. No. 09/315,398, supra and or No. 60/140,633 intended to be lightweight and portable, generally must operate with a limited power budget (and also have a more limited ability to dissipate heat, compared with larger systems). Accordingly, it would be useful to provide an optical head apparatus, system and method which can achieve the desired optical quality (e.g. accommodating noncircularity or other optical features) while avoiding, as needed or useful, undue energy inefficiency and/or unnecessary heat generation (e.g. arising from substantial overfilling of lenses or other optical inefficiencies which in turn require higher optical power and hence higher electrical power lasers which dissipate more heat).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention includes a recognition of problems in previous approaches, including as described herein. According to one aspect of the invention, an optical element unit (OEU) which includes at least a first non-beamshaper element of an optical path, can be provided with one or more beamshaper elements, also positioned on the optical element unit, and also being in or part of the optical path. The beamshaper is configured in such a manner that at least some optical characteristics of the beam are substantially unchanged regardless of whether the beamshaper is provided or not. In one embodiment, the virtual source point for a laser diode light source is substantially the same regardless of whether the beamshaper is present or not. In one embodiment, although the presence or absence of the beamshaper has an affect on the optical properties of the beam, it is not necessary (in order to provide a feasible and operable read/write device) to substantially alter any of the non-beamshaper components on the optical path, to accommodate the addition of a beamshaper. In this way, it is possible to substantially design the entire optical path for a read/write device in the absence of a beamshaper and, if it is later determined that a beamshaper is desired or necessary, to insert the beamshaper component or components into the optical path without the need for substantially altering or modifying or adding other components along the optical path.

[0010] In one embodiment, in order for a beamshaper to have this characteristic, the lens or other surfaces of the beamshaper must be fabricated with a degree of accuracy, e.g., within a few percent of ideal position or shape. In many previous approaches, the cost of providing such accuracy would substantially outweigh the benefits of providing a beamshaper of this nature. However, according to one embodiment of the invention, it is possible to achieve a beamshaper with a high degree of accuracy while maintaining cost-feasibility. In one embodiment, one or more beamshaper surfaces are formed by a photomask and etching process. Examples of operable photomask and etching processes are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/666,616, filed Sep. 20, 2000, and titled “Microlens and Method and Apparatus for Fabricating” (Attorney File No. 4154-15) incorporated herein by reference. For example, a suitable shape can be formed by etching a fused silica substrate using a gray-scale mask, or multiple masks. Such etching processes can achieve a high degree of accuracy in a surface shape, at relatively low costs (e.g., compared with grinding, molding or other lens formation procedures).

[0011] Cost-feasibility can be further provided by forming at least one surface of the beamshaper simultaneously with forming a second (e.g., non-beamshaper) optical element on the same block (e.g., an “optical element unit” or OEU as described below). Simultaneous etching of two or more components reduces per-element formation time and cost requirements and can result in highly accurate lateral placement of two or more elements relative to one another, further reducing costs (e.g., as compared with providing discrete elements which must be separately positioned).

[0012] Additional cost-feasibility can be provided by using a wafer-scale technology in which multiple OEUs are etched in a single large (e.g., 6 inch diameter) wafer, with the OEUs being subsequently separated from one another by sawing or the like.

[0013] Another manner of providing highly-accurate beamshaper shapes, while maintaining feasible costs, is to shape or form two (or more) lens surfaces of the beamshaper in non-simultaneous (e.g., sequential) steps or stages, thus making it possible to measure shapes, positions, features or imperfections in a first beamshaper surface, and adjust the shape of the second beamshaper surface to at least partially compensate for errors, imperfections or tolerances in the first beamshaper surface. In one embodiment, after a first surface of an OEU is formed to include a first beamshaper surface, the shape, position or other optical parameters or features of the first beamshaper lens surface are measured. In a later step or stage, a different (e.g., opposite) surface of the OEU is etched and the etching process is performed in such a manner as to etch the second surface to at least partially compensate for errors or imperfections in the first surface (e.g., by designing or selecting a photo mask for the second surface, and or adjusting etch times or other parameters to achieve the desired compensating second beamshaper surface). Of course, there may be errors or imperfections in the etching of the second surface. However, by providing measurement and compensation as described, it is more likely that the respective errors in first and second beamshaper surfaces will be at least partially subtractive in nature, rather than additive in nature. I.e., in the absence of the described measurement and compensation procedure, a 3% shape or position error in each of the two surfaces could be additive and result in an overall beamshaper error of about 6% or more. By using the described measurement and compensation process, the likelihood is that if there is a 3% error in shape or position for each matching process, errors in the first process will be substantially nullified, resulting in an overall beamshaper error of about 3%.

[0014] In one aspect, an optical head of a type useable in a optical disk reader/writer is provided. One of the optical elements is provided in a fashion that one or more optical parameters or characteristics of the system are invariant, regardless of whether the one optical element is used, or not. In one embodiment the optical element is a beamshaper. In order to provide the desired invariant property, the surfaces of the optical element are preferably formed with high accuracy. One manner of economically achieving high accuracy is to measure errors or imperfections in a first formed, preferably etched, surface and adjust the shape or position of a second aligned etched surface so as to at least partially compensate for the errors or imperfections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a reader/writer drive device coupled to a host device of a type that can be used in connection with embodiments of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of an optical arm and optical disk according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an optical head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the optical head of FIG. 3.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an optical head of FIG. 3;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view through an optical head and a portion of an adjacent disk according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a perspective view partially exploded of a wafer and partially mounted spacer components according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a portion of a wafer with mounted spacer components;

[0023]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of one resultant wafer section following wafer cutting;

[0024]FIG. 10 is a vertical cross section through an optical head and a portion of an optical disk according one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view depicting an optical arm and a relatively movable optics head, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 12 is a partial exploded perspective view of an optics arm and optics head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of a portion of an optical arm with mounting prongs, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 14 is a vertical cross sectional view of an optical head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of components of an optical head with a laser mounted on a surface of the optical die, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of components of an optical head which uses a VCSEL, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 17 is a block diagram depicting components that can be uses in providing various embodiments of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 18 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of an optical head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 19 is a top plan view of an Optical Element Unit (OEU) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 20 is a bottom plan view of an Optical element unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035]FIG. 21 is a transverse cross-sectional plan view of an Optical element unit (OEU) according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 22 is a top plan view of an optical detector portion of an optical head substrate, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of the portion of the substrate of FIG. 22 combined with a corresponding portion of an Optical element unit (OEU), with selected light beams shown cross-hatched, for clarity, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038]FIGS. 24A and B are graphs of Focus Error Signals (FES), as a function of focus at the medium, for first and second detectors, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039]FIG. 25 is a graph of a differential Focus Error Signals (FES), as a function of focus at the medium, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040]FIG. 26 is a side elevational view of an optical head, with arrows showing the paths of central axes of selected light beams, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0041]FIG. 27 is a side elevational view of an optical head, with arrows showing the paths of selected light beams, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042]FIGS. 28A and 28B are schematic depictions of invariant virtual source points in optical paths, without and with (respectively) a beamshaper according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043]FIG. 29 is a flow chart illustrating a fabrication process according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044]FIGS. 30A and B illustrate the Y and X sag profiles for the first lens surface of Equation (1) and Table I, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045]FIGS. 31A and B illustrate the Y and X sag profiles for the second lens surface of Equation (1) and Table I, and according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0046]FIG. 32 illustrates an example of changing refraction at a second lens surface to compensate for error in refraction at a first lens surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0047] The present invention can be used in the context of a number of drives and drive configurations, including as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,398, supra. In the configuration depicted in FIG. 1 a reader/writer drive device 112 is coupled to a host device 114 (which may be, for example, a personal electronic device (PED) such as a music and/or video player, a camera, and electronic book or other text reader and the like) by an interface 116. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the drive 112 holds or receives optical media, typically an optical disk 118 which has a hub 122 for coupling or centering with respect to a disk spin motor 124 under control of a motor control 126. In one embodiment, the media 118 is a first surface media, e.g. as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,398 supra., incorporated herein by reference. Bits on the media 118 are read or written using an optical head 128 (e.g. as described more thoroughly below) which provides data or signals 132 to a data read/write electronics 134, e.g., for passing to the host 114 via the interface 116. The optical head 128, in one embodiment, includes substantially all components or devices which control or affect the laser or optical beam along its entire path from generation to arrival and/or reflection from the media 118 and detection, including the laser or other light source, lenses, gratings, holograms, wave plates, mirrors, beam splitters and other refractive, reflective, diffractive or other optics for affecting the light beam or controlling photo diode or other light detectors and the like.

[0048] Before discussing details of the present invention, certain general concepts will be discussed. One of the important factors affecting design of an optical system (such as a system for an optical disk reader/writer, typically including a laser or other optical source, lenses, reflectors and other components) is the size of the optical system, both in terms of the mass, volume and/or dimensions and in terms of the size and shape of the light as it reaches the optical disk (the spot size and quality). Although a wide variety of systems have been used or proposed, typical previous systems have used optical components that were sufficiently large and/or massive that functions such as focus and/or tracking were performed by moving only some components of the system, such as moving the objective lens (e.g. for focus) relative to the laser or other light source. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is believed that the relatively large size of components was related to the spot size, which in turn was substantially dictated by designs in which the data layer of a disk was significantly spaced from the physical surface of the disk (so that the optical path typically passed through a disk substrate, or some other portion of the disk, typically passing through a substantial distance of the disk thickness, such as about 0.6 mm or more, before reaching the data layer).

[0049] Regardless of the cause behind providing for relative movement between optical components, such an approach, while perhaps useful for accommodating relatively larger or massive components, presents certain disadvantages, including the relatively large form factors required and the cost associated with establishing and maintaining optical alignment between components which must be made moveable with respect to one another. Such alignment often involves manual and/or individual alignment or adjustment procedures which can undesirably increase manufacturing or fabrication costs for a reader/writer, as well as contributing to costs of design, maintenance, repair and the like. Accordingly, an optical head method, system and apparatus which can reduce or eliminate the need for relative movement between optical components, during normal operation and/or can reduce or eliminate at least some alignment procedures, e.g., during reader/writer manufacturing, can be useful.

[0050] Many early optical disks and other optical storage systems provided relatively large-format reader/writer devices including, for example, devices for use in connection with 12 inch (or larger) diameter disks. As optical storage technologies have developed, however, there has been an increasing attention to providing feasible and practical systems which are of relatively smaller size. For some applications, e.g., for use in personal electronic devices (PEDs), e.g. as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,398 for Removable Optical Storage Device and System (incorporated herein by reference), a device for reading and/or writing optical disks is described having a relatively small form factor such as about 10.5 mm height, 50 mm width and 40 mm depth. Generally, a practical reader/writer device must accommodate numerous items within its form factor including the media, media cartridge (if any), media spin motor, power supply and/or conditioning, signal processing, focus, tracking or other servo electronics, in addition to the components associated or affecting the laser or light beam optics. In order to facilitate a relatively small form-factor, an optical head apparatus, system and method which can occupy a relatively small volume can be useful. In addition to total volume considerations, constraints imposed by a desired form factor and/or the need to accommodate other reader/writer components can make it advantageous to provide an optical head apparatus system and method which is relatively small in certain dimensions such as having a relatively small vertical profile or dimensional requirement (with “vertical” referring to a direction parallel to the optical disk spin axis), although reduction of requirements in other dimensions (such as a longitudinal dimension parallel to an optical arm axis and/or a lateral dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) may also be of importance. Provision of a low vertical profile configuration can be specially problematic since, for at least some optical designs (including, e.g. finite conjugate designs), a minimum optical path may be required or advisable (although the read/write beam generally must reach the optical disk substantially normal to the plane of the disk). An optical head apparatus system and method which can reduce dimensional requirements such as reducing vertical dimension requirements, e.g., in the case of a PED to less than about 12 mm, preferably less than about 5 mm and more preferably less than about 3 mm, can be useful.

[0051] Preferably, some or all electronics for controlling and/or modulating the laser and/or conditioning, digitizing and/or processing detection signals are included in the optical head. Information or signals obtained using the optical head 128 are also provided 136 to an arm control electronics 138 which moves or controls an optical arm 142, e.g. for tracking and/or focus. A power source or conditioner 144 provides power for electronics and/or motors or actuators. Various configurations of a drive 112 can have other components, not depicted in FIG. 1, such as mechanical components for receiving and/or ejecting the media 118 and/or media cartridges, content control electronics, microprocessors or other processors, data storage memory devices, data encryption/decryption electronics, and/or other components as will be understood by those of skill in the art after understanding the present disclosure.

[0052] The size, mass, volume, shape and/or vertical, longitudinal and/or lateral dimensions or requirements and/or cost of the optical head 128 are of significance to the overall feasibility and cost of a drive device 112, especially when the configuration of the drive device 112 places constraints on the position, size, shape or cost of other components of the drive 112, and particularly when it is desired to substantially accommodate the drive 112 in a certain form factor, e.g., as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,398, supra.

[0053]FIG. 2 illustrates in generalized or schematic form, a positional relationship of an optical head 128 and arm 142 with respect to media 118 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the optical head 128 is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optical arm 142. As described more thoroughly below, preferably, all components of the optical head 128 are in a constant or fixed position with respect to one another, i.e. there is substantially no relative movement of any optical component of the optical head 128 with respect to any other component of the optical head. Instead, in the depicted embodiment, to achieve desired alignment with data on the media 118 (i.e. tracking) and/or focus, the entire optical head 128 is moved, as a unit, with respect to the media 118.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the optical path is configured such that the optical path length (measured along the optical axis, following any folding of the optical path) from the source to the objective is substantially greater than the distance from the objective to the data surface of the medium. In one embodiment, the ratio of the source-to-objective path length to the objective-to-data surface path length is at least about 5. As used herein “objective” or “objective lens” refers to the component which focuses light onto the recording layer or recording surface of the medium. Although this is typically a conventional refractive lens, it can also include reflective, diffractive, or holographic components . Although typically the last or ultimate optical component along the optical path before the light reaches the medium, “objective” or “objective lens” as used herein can also encompass items which may not be the last optical component before reaching the medium. The optical path length from the objective to the data surface is a function of a number of factors including the numerical aperture of the lens, the distance (if any) from the disk surface to the data surface and the smallest safe spacing between the optical head and the disk surface (the “working distance”). In one embodiment, it is desired to provide an optical path length from the source to the objective greater than about 2.5 mm, preferably greater than about 4 mm, and even more preferably greater than about 4.5 mm. One embodiment of the present invention involves achieving such a source-to-objective path length while providing a low-profile device, preferably such that a reader/writer device can be accommodated in a form factor with a (vertical) profile less than about 10.5 mm, preferably less than or equal to about 6 mm.

[0055] In the depicted embodiment, media 118 rotates 212 about a spin axis 214 which defines what will be referred to herein as the vertical direction. Spinning of the disk 212 provides for alignment of the light beam with (successive) circumferential positions on the disk 118. Alignment with desired radial positions (tracking) is provided by moving the optical head 128 in a direction having a radial component, preferably by rotating 216 the optical arm 142 about a substantially vertical axis 218 so that the position at which the light beam reaches the disk 118 defines an arc 222 extending throughout a predetermined radial range of the disk 118. In the depicted embodiment, to provide focusing, the entire optical head 128 is moved, as a unit, along a path having a vertical component such as by pivoting 224 the arm 142 about a substantially horizontal axis 226. Although the illustration of FIG. 2 is not to scale, it suffices to illustrate that the overall vertical dimension for accommodating the component depicted in FIG. 2 will be affected by the vertical profile or height 232 of the optical head 128, as well as other dimensions such as the spacing 234 to the media 118 and the like.

[0056]FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment in which not only the optics components of the optics head 128 move together, but in which the optics head moves with (is substantially rigidly coupled to) the optics arm 142. It is also possible to provide embodiments in which, while components of the optics head (preferably including at least the light source and the objective) are non-movable with respect to each other, the optics head may be movable with respect to some or all of the arm. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 11, the optics head 128 may be coupled to the arm 142 by a movable or flexible, preferably resilient, leaf member 242. The leaf member 242 may include all or part of a flexible printed circuit (flex-circuit) device e.g. for providing signals to and from the optics head 128. A number of flex circuit materials or devices can be used. One example is a flex circuit using a substrate including a polyimide material such as that sold under the trade name Kapton®, available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Del., with one or more copper traces or regions and/or one or more electronic components formed or mounted thereon. Preferably, movement of the head 128 with respect to the arm 142 can be positively controlled, such as by using a voice coil 244 or other electromagnetic or electronic device for moving the head toward or away from the arm 142.

[0057] FIGS. 3-5 depict an optical head 328 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the depicted embodiment, an objective lens 312 is positioned by a lens mount 314 over a quarter wave plate 316. In some embodiments, some or all functions of the quarterwave plate can be provided by a coating, rather than a plate. The lens mount can be formed of a number of materials including steel, glass, or silicon. The quarter wave plate can be formed of a number of materials, including mica and quartz. In some embodiments the functionality of a quarter wave plate can be provided by a coating. Below the quarter wave plate 316 is a optical element unit, referred to herein as a periscope 318. The periscope 318 is substantially transparent, at least at the wavelength of the laser light, and defines a first angled (preferably 45° angle with respect to vertical) surface 322 acting substantially as a mirror, as described more thoroughly below. Preferably the 45° surface 322 will be coated with a substantially reflective coating such as aluminum or reflective chrome coatings. The periscope 318, in the depicted embodiment, also includes an interior polarization beam splitter surface 324 also preferably at about 45° (with respect to vertical) which is substantially reflective (i.e. acts substantially as a mirror) for light with a first polarization and substantially transmissive for light with a second polarization. The periscope block can be made from a number of materials, including, e.g., fused silica or SF2 (flint glass).

[0058] Below the periscope 318 is an optical die or “optical element unit” (OEU) 326. Use of the term “die” represents a convenience, and should not be taken as limiting the invention to only the depicted parallelepiped, parallelogram or other shapes depicted herein. The OEU 326 is provided with lenses, gratings, holograms, and/or other optical components or devices, as described more thoroughly below.

[0059] The OEU 326 is coupled by spacer blocks 332, 334 to an underlying sub-mount 336 (preferably sliced from a silicon or similar wafer, as described more thoroughly below). In the depicted embodiment, the sub-mount 336 is positioned on a printed circuit board 338 or flex circuit.

[0060] The light path has its origin in the laser diode 612 mounted, with respect to the sub-mount 336, e.g., using a laser mount 614. In one embodiment, the laser beam is not collimated but follows a diverging configuration substantially from the laser source to the objective lens which forms a finite conjugate imaging system. In this configuration the beam-forming or beam-shaping optics are provided principally for fully or partially circularizing the light and/or fully or partially correcting astigmatism and/or providing a beam pointing adjustment function. One potential advantage of a finite conjugate (point-to-point imaging system) is that the substantial demagnification provides an effective reduction or elimination of the astigmatism that arises from the laser. However, circularizing lens 352 a may create sufficient astigmatism that a second lens or other optics 352 b may be advisable for correcting astigmatism. It is also possible to position beam-shaping or other lenses or other optics on the surface of the submount 336 between the laser and the mirror block 332, e.g. for circularizing or other optics purposes. In one embodiment lenses or similar optics 352 a, b along the optical path are configured to at least partially correct for angular errors in the mounting (and thus the beam direction) of the laser diode.

[0061] In the depicted embodiment, the laser diode is a side-emitting laser diode and the horizontal laser beam 616 output by the laser diode 612 is reflected to a vertical beam by a 45° surface 618 positioned with respect to the sub-mount 338 preferably by being incorporated as a surface of one of the spacers 332. In one embodiment, a portion of the emitted laser beam is reflected back (e.g. from the OEU 326) for purposes of monitoring and controlling laser power output. In one embodiment, the laser is a red-light laser. Preferably, however, the present invention can accommodate the use of shorter-wavelength lasers, such as blue-light lasers, (e.g. for achieving decreased spot size and increased data density) while still retaining the same general configuration of the optical head as used with red-light lasers (such as configurations having substantially all optical components moving together, mounted at one end of the optical arm, formed of one or more optical-element plates, each with multiple optical elements, and/or defining an optical path with the majority of the length through a glass or other solid substance), although some details (such as shape or power of lenses or other optics, pupil size, etc.) may be changed to accommodate short-wavelength light.

[0062] As depicted in FIG. 16, the use of surface 618 for turning the beam from a horizontal beam 616 to a vertical beam could be eliminated from the design by providing a laser which is not side-emitting, such as a vertical cavity, surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) 1612 (e.g. as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,398, supra) which can be configured or positioned to emit substantially in a vertical direction 1614. VCSEL's are also useful because of the substantial circularity of the beam and reduction or elimination of astigmatism.

[0063] As depicted in FIG. 7, in one embodiment the sub-mount 336 is formed from a small (“sliced”) portion of a larger silicon (or other) wafer 712 (FIG. 7), with the wafer being formed, using typical wafer fabrication techniques, preferably including a plurality of other electronic components forming portions of some or all of the drive circuitry 112 such as a high frequency laser modulator, pre-amp, laser diode driver, photodetector and associated circuitry, power or control circuitry, tracking or focus servo, data read/write electronics and the like. A wafer 712 formed with a plurality of silicon “chip” regions (which will be separated, e.g., by sawing or slicing, as described below) then has mounted on it, e.g. using optically guided pick and place technologies or the like, a plurality of laser diodes and mounts 714 a through 714 x and a plurality of spacer bars with integrated mirrors 716 a,b,c. Each spacer bar 716 contains a plurality of 45° mirror surfaces (718 a, 718 b, 718 c, etc.). The laser diode 714 and mirror 718 of the spacer bar 716 are positioned on the wafer 712 with respect to the electronics thereon so as to provide for coupling of the laser to laser power control or similar circuitry and to provide for substantial alignment of the output beam of the laser with a corresponding mirror 718. After the desired components are positioned on the wafer 712, the wafer is sliced or sawed, e.g., along a plurality of lines (depicted, in FIG. 8, in phantom, 812 a,b,c, 814 a,b,c). As shown in FIG. 8, preferably, the saw lines 812 abc are positioned so that each resultant chip has left and right spacers 332, 334, resulting from right and left (respectively) portions of sawed spacer bars 716. In the resultant configuration depicted in FIG. 9, each chip 912 has mounted, thereon, in a desired configuration, or alignment, a laser diode 714, a turning mirror 618 and spacers 332 334, preferably with sufficient area 914 on the chip 912 remaining to accommodate various electronic components formed as part of the wafer 712.

[0064] Although a number of shapes and sizes of devices can be used according to the present invention, in one embodiment, the sub-mount 336 has a length 512 of about 5 mm and a lateral dimension 412 of about 1.5 mm.

[0065] The optical die or optical element (“OE”) block 326 which is to be positioned above the sub-mount 336 (and spaced therefrom by the spacers 332, 334) can have a number of different configurations, depending on the desired functions. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the OEU 326 includes a plurality of beam shaping optics 352 and servo optics 354. In one embodiment, the beam shaping optics 352 a, b are provided as (or perform functions substantially similar to those of) toric or cylindrical lenses, e.g., for fully or partially circularizing the laser beam, correcting astigmatism and the like. Preferably, the optics are configured to control the overfilling of the objective as desired, e.g. to balance crosstalk with optical efficiency.

[0066] The optics 352 a,b, 354 can be lenses or similar refractive optics, gratings or holograms or other diffractive optics and the like. In some embodiments, optics may be formed in the optical die by etching techniques including providing approximate stepped shapes, continuous shapes, segmented or “telescoped” lenses, Fresnel lenses, and the like. In general, refractive optics are preferred, when otherwise feasible, because of the relatively higher sensitivity of diffractive optics to wavelength.

[0067] The OEU is preferably a substantially planar (rectangular parallelepiped) block located between the substrate or submount and the periscope. The OEU is provided with a plurality of optical elements or components, whose configuration, fabrication, function and position may be different in different embodiments. FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment in which the OEU 1802 includes a forward sense optic 1804, a servo optical element 1806, beam-shaping optics 1808, 1810, patterned absorptive coatings 1812, patterned reflective coatings 1814, anti-reflective coatings 1816 and alignment marks 1912, 1914 (FIG. 19).

[0068] As depicted in FIG. 18, the forward sense optics 1804 can be used for deflecting some of the outgoing laser light back 1820, 1826 towards a detector 1828, e.g. mounted on the silicon or substrate 1830. The function of the detector 1828 is to provide an indication of outgoing laser power, e.g. for use in a control or servo-circuit to maintain desired read and write power levels of the laser 1832. Those of skill in the art will understand how to use signals from the detector 1828 for controlling power at the laser 1832. The forward sense elements 1804 can be, e.g. a reflective hologram (e.g. an etched surface-relief hologram shown, in FIG. 18, on the top surface of the OEU 1802), with or without a further reflective coating such as chrome or aluminum. It would be possible to position the reflective optics or forward sense optics 1804 in other locations such as on a bottom or other surface of the periscope 1836 or the bottom surface 1848 of the OEU. It is also possible to provide forward sense optics 1804 as a transmissive hologram or grating which deflects light to a detector mounted at a location other than the substrate 1830, such as being mounted on the top surface 1838 of the periscope 1836. It is also possible to provide forward sense optics 1804 in the form of a prism, such as an etched prism, or a mirror surface, to direct light towards a detector 1828 mounted on the substrate 1830 or elsewhere.

[0069] In the embodiment of FIG. 18, the OEU 1802 also includes a servo-optic element (“SOE”) 1806. The servo-optic element 1806 acts to modify light returning from the disk 1842 and/or direct the returning light to one or more detector arrays 1844 for the purpose of generating useful tracking signals, focus signals and/or data signals (e.g. as described more thoroughly below). The SOE 1806 may be a hologram or may be a formed or etched refractive element. Although FIG. 18 depicts the SOE 1806 on the upper surface 1846 of the OEU 1802, it is also possible to position the SOE on the bottom surface 1848 of the optical element unit 1802. It is also possible to provide embodiments in which more than one optic element is used for modifying light returning from the disk such as providing for two or more lenses, gratings, holograms and the like. It is also possible to provide embodiments in which one or more SOE elements are positioned other than on the OEU 1802, such as being positioned on a surface of the periscope 1836. The SOE 1806 may be, for example, a cylindrical or toric lens, e.g. of the type commonly used in conjunction with a quadrant detector in the so-called astigmatic focus scheme. Refractive elements can be fabricated by etching, pressing, machining or molding and can be coated or uncoated.

[0070] The beam-shaping optics 1808, 1810 may be refractive and/or diffractive components placed in the path of the outgoing beam e.g. to modify the angular divergence of the laser beam, e.g. specifically to achieve a desired beam intensity profile at the pupil 1852 of the objective lens 1854. The relationship between the size and intensity-profile of the laser beam as it reaches the objective lens 1854, with respect to the size and shape of the objective lens 1854 affects the shape of the focused spot at the disk 1856, and hence the ability to resolve data marks, and affects the amount of track-to-track and in-track cross-talk. When the laser source 1832 is a edge emitter laser diode, as depicted, the laser beam, initially, will be generally in the form of an elliptical Gaussian beam. The beam, as it reaches the objective lens 1854 will have one elliptical axis substantially tangential to the disc tracks and the other elliptical axis substantially radial to the disk tracks. The intensity of the laser light at the circumference of the objective lens 1854 in the radial and tangential directions (expressed as a percentage of the central beam intensity) are referred to as the rim intensities in these directions. A particular drive design may place lower or upper limits on rim intensities. In at least some embodiments, and especially in the case of low power drives, e.g. for portable devices, there may be a constraint to provide a relatively high amount of light or percentage of light reaching the disk from the laser. In these cases, lower rim intensities are generally preferred since this is indicative that overfilling the lens is being substantially avoided thus, avoiding the spilling or wasting of light energy. In one embodiment the rim intensity is not greater than about 80% in the tangential direction and/or not greater than about 40% in the radial direction (compared to the central or maximum intensity). In one embodiment the rim intensity is preferably not less than about 50% in the tangential direction and/or not less than about 15% in the radial direction. In the limit of low rim intensities, all of the available light is passed by the lens. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, the beamshaping optics 1808, 1810 are configured to assist in modifying the beam to achieve the desired intensity (or other) profile at the lens 1854. In at least one embodiment, one or both of the beamshaping lenses 1808, 1810 are anamorphic, aspheric elements. In one embodiment, beamshaping elements 1808, and/or 1810, are designed or configured in such a way that the beamshaping elements 1808, 1810 can be omitted without creating the need for substantially modifying or adding other optical elements 1804, 1806, 1812-1816, 1828, 1836, 1854, 1858 or modifying and/or moving the laser diode 1832, fold mirror 1858, prisms 1838, reflecting surfaces 324, or photo diodes 1844. Those of skill in the art will understand how to shape and position surfaces of such a beamshaping element, after understanding the present disclosure. One example of a beamshaping element having this characteristic is described by the following equation which expresses, for first and second surfaces, the amount of sag, in millimeters, as a function of the (orthogonal) X and Y radial positions, in millimeters, with the values of the equation parameters for the first and second surfaces being shown in Table I. The distance from the source point to the first surface is 0.390 mm and the distance from the first to the second surface is 0.745 mm in a material whose index of refraction is 1.96.

Sag(X,Y)=C ₂₀ X ² +C ₀₂ Y ² +C ₄₀ X ⁴ +C ₂₂ X ² Y ² +C ₀₄ Y ⁴  (1) TABLE I For First Surface For Second Surface C₂₀ −0.39159485 −0.052783359 C₀₂ 1.93044042 0.63270121 C₄₀ 0.33426195 0.034762591 C₂₂ −10.209495 −0.91998271 C₀₄ −6.7032532 1.7905847

[0071]FIGS. 30A, B and 31A,B illustrate X and Y sag profiles 3012 a,b; 3112 a,b of Equation (1) and Table I.

[0072] In general, in order for a beamshaping component to have the desired characteristics in the context of a read/write device as described herein, the position and/or shape of the beamshaper surface or surfaces must be accurate to within a tolerance of less than about 5% preferably less than about 3%.

[0073] In one embodiment, the beamshaper is formed by an etching process. One surface of a fused silica or other block of optical material is masked with one or more photomasks, including, in one embodiment, a gray-scale mask. Those of skill in the photo lithography art will understand how to form desired masks and perform effective etching. The masked block (which may be an area of a larger block or wafer, to be later cut or diced) is etched, using a chemical etch, electron beam etch or other type of etching known to those of skill in the art. After etching the shape, position and/or optical characteristics of the first beamshaper surface, formed as a result of such etching, is measured. Surface profile of an optical surface may be measured by commercially available equipment such as noncontact optical profilometer or a stylus profilometer or scanning confocal microscope. The results of the measurement are analyzed such as by comparing with digitized or other descriptions of the desired or ideal beamshaper surface shape and/or position, and the results of this comparison are used to design, calculate and/or select (e.g., from among a plurality of pre-designed options) a shape and/or position for a second beamshaper surface which will have the characteristic of at least partially compensating for any detected shape or position errors in the first beamshaper surface. Those of skill in the art will understand how to design a second optical surface so as to compensate for measured errors in a first surface. As one simplified example, FIG. 32 illustrates the path of an ideal first ray 3212 a,b,c and its perfect refraction at a first lens surface 3214 and a second lens surface 3216, with the source point 3218 unchanged. FIG. 32 also illustrates the path of a second ray 3222 a,b,c and its imperfect refraction at the first lens surfaces 3214 (i.e. deviating more than the first ray 3212 a,b,c). In the illustration of FIG. 32, this type of refraction at the first lens surface 3214 is compensated by providing refraction at the second surface 3216 which deviates the second ray such that the (apparent) source point is unchanged (i.e. such that the path of the second ray after the second refraction 3222 c, if extended back, opposite its direction of travel, defines a (virtual) path 3224 which intersects the source point 3218). A photomask which is designed, configured and/or selected to result in the desired compensating second surface shape or position is applied to the second, opposed surface of the optical element unit and a second etching process is performed, resulting in an optical element unit having substantially aligned first and second beamshaper surfaces configured such that one beamshaper surface at least partially compensates for imperfections or errors in the other beamshaper surface. If desired, the second beamshaper surface may be etched substantially simultaneously with one or more other optical elements.

[0074] In one embodiment, the second surface beamshaper elements are etched after the wafer is sawed, such that a different appropriate mask can be readily applied to each optical element block to achieve the desired (compensating) shape and/or position. In another embodiment, a wafer is not separated into individual OEUs until after second surface for the entire wafer has been etched. In this embodiment, it may be necessary to provide a photo mask which may have different shapes, densities or other characteristics for forming second beamshaper surfaces in different OEUs.

[0075] In one embodiment, the beamshaper is configured so as to provide substantially no effect on the virtual source point for the laser source (or other source). In FIG. 28A, a beam 2812 is output by a laser 2814, may be affected by various non-beamshaper optical elements 2816 and impinge on an objective lens 2818. The divergence and other characteristics of the beam 2812 define a virtual source point 2822, which is a point from which the beam 2812 appears to originate based on divergence or other optical parameters. In practice, the beam 2812 may have divergence which is different along different cross-sectional axes and accordingly there may be more than one source point 2822. For purposes of the present description, source point 2822 can be taken as the point which defines the greatest distance 2824 from the point to the objective lens 2818. In the configuration of FIG. 28B, the optical path contains substantially the same elements (having an objective lens 2818, laser 2814 and (substantially identical) non-beamshaper optics 2816) but also includes a beamshaper 2826. The beamshaper 2826 illustrated in FIG. 28B is not intended to illustrate the actual shape or curvature of beamshaper lens surfaces. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 28B, the virtual source point 2822 is the same (i.e., is the same distance 2824 from the objective lens) regardless of whether the beamshaper is present (as in FIG. 28B) or absent (as in FIG. 28A).

[0076] Although in the embodiment of FIG. 18, the outgoing beam 1858 passes through two optic elements 1808, 1810 formed on opposite surfaces 1846, 1848 of the OEU 1802, it is possible to provide embodiments in which only one beam-shaping or other optic element is positioned in the OEU 1802 in the path of the outgoing beam 1858. It is also possible to provide embodiments in which one or more refractive or diffractive elements for affecting the outgoing beam are positioned on the periscope 1836, such as on a lower surface region 1862, an upper surface 1864, (which, in the depicted location, would also be in the path of the returning beam), an angled reflective surface 1866 (also in the return beam path) and interior surface 1868 (also in the return-beam path) and the like. Optical elements in the path of the outgoing beam can also perform useful (or vital) functions other than (or in addition to) controlling the rim intensities. Beam-steering optical elements can be provided to correct laser beam pointing errors (e.g. errors arising from off-axis mounting of the laser diode 1832 and the like). It is also possible to provide at least partial correction of pointing errors by translating or rotating the OEU 1802 in tangential and/or radial directions. This approach is facilitated when the beamshaper optics have optical power in both directions (tangential and radial). In general, the range of beam steering adjustment is at least partially limited by the wave-front error that is induced by the position error (which degrades the spot profile at the disk and the data and servo signals). Another function that can be achieved by diffractive or refractive optics in the outgoing beam path is correction of laser diode astigmatism. Since the surfaces are generally aspheric, some astigmatism may be designed-in to cancel that which is typically inherent in laser sources such as laser diodes.

[0077] In some embodiments, portions of surfaces of the OEU 1802 (or other components, such as the periscope 1836) are coated with an absorptive coating 1812 patterned on the top 1846 or bottom surfaces 1848 (or on the side or end surfaces). Absorptive coatings can be used to control the path of unwanted light within the optical head. With the laser and detectors in relatively close proximity, and in close proximity with many surfaces that may have varying reflectivities (including the substrate 1830, surfaces of the OEU 1802, periscope 1836, lens 1854 and lens mount and the like), there is a potential for unwanted light reaching optical detectors 1844, 1828 causing erroneous signals of various types such as a focus or tracking offset. In some embodiments, substantially all surfaces which are not designed to permit passage of desired light are coated with a absorptive (or reflective) coating. In another approach, optical ray-tracing (or empirical observation) can determine likely paths of undesired light and locate optimum tI placement of areas of black (or low reflectance) material designed to minimize unwanted signals.

[0078] A number of materials can be used as an absorptive coating such as a single layer of a highly absorbent material such as germanium or silicon. If desired, such absorptive layers may be provided with an additional coating such as an anti-reflective coating to further improve performance. In some embodiments, the absorptive coating may be a multi-layer absorber/anti-reflector (e.g. chromium/anti-reflector multi-layers).

[0079] In some embodiments, some regions of the OEU (or other components) may be provided with patterned reflective coatings 1814. These may be positioned and configured to perform functions similar to those of patterned absorptive coatings described above. Patterned reflective coatings may be used to deflect unwanted light which would otherwise fall on detectors. In addition, reflective coatings may be used to help direct light towards a detector such as in the case of the forward sense optic 1804. Reflective coatings can be made from a number of materials having appropriate reflectance and adhesion, including single-layer or multi-layer coatings of metals or metal alloys such as aluminum, gold, silver, chromium, and the like or from single or multilayer dielectric coatings. Other materials for use as reflective coatings will be understood by those of skill in the art after understanding the present disclosure.

[0080] In some embodiments, anti-reflection coatings are provided on selected surfaces or portions thereof, e.g. to reduce reflections which may cause unwanted signals on detectors and/or to reduce the amount of reflective loss of optical power in the system. In general, anti-reflective coatings may be used on surfaces which are not in optical contact with other surfaces of the same refractive index. In such cases, in the absence of anti-reflection coatings, there is always some reflection loss. For example, typically a glass-air interface reflects about 4 percent of the light (at normal incidence). In a case where the OEU 1802 is solder-pad bonded to the periscope 1836, a gap (typically of a few micrometers) is present, which is filled with air, and unwanted reflections can occur unless anti-reflection coatings are applied. In the case where the optic block 1802 is substantially adjacent to the periscope 1836 (e.g. in cemented or adhesive-bonded configurations), some or all of the optics 1804, 1806, 1810 may be formed by an etching or similar process to provide regions which are recessed below the upper surface 1846, thus creating an air gap. A number of materials can be used as anti-reflection coatings. In one embodiment, single or multi-layer thin films, usually of a dielectric material such as magnesium fluoride, applied in predetermined thicknesses, will reduce or substantially eliminate optical reflections over a specific wavelength and angular range. Those of skill in the art will understand how to select and apply anti-reflective coatings after understanding the present disclosure.

[0081] In some embodiments, to assist in optically aligning the OEU for assembly to the substrate or periscope, alignment marks 1912, 1914 are provided. In some embodiments the alignment marks 1912, 1914 are sized and shaped to overlap or complement corresponding marks on other components, such as the substrate 1830 or periscope 1836, to facilitate precise location, such as location to a precision of about 10 micrometers or less. A number of materials and procedures can be used for forming alignment marks. In one embodiment, the alignment marks are photolithographically-defined lines or targets which may be formed during any of the other photolithographic steps in the fabrication of the OEU and/or etched or coated along with other components such as the forward sense element or the servo-optical element. The marks may be on the top surface (FIG. 19) or bottom surface.

[0082] In some embodiments, substantially all of the optical components of the OEU are formed by patterned lithography and/or etching in glass (or other optical material), possibly in conjunction with a variety of coating steps. Such processes are typically suitable for processing at “wafer scale” i.e. a relatively large (e.g. 3 inch to 6 inch diameter) wafer of glass or optical material may be lithographically patterned to define a large number of individual parts, each part being on the “chip” scale (such as around 1 mm to 5 mm, or smaller). All of the individual parts on the wafer may be processed simultaneously (etched, coated, etc.) leading to low-cost individual parts. Further cost reduction is provided by forming multiple optical elements 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810) on a single block 1802 using photolithographic or similar techniques, such that the relative positioning of the optical components on the block 1802 are predefined and provided with a high degree of precision. In this way, it is possible to avoid the cost of aligning individual optical elements during device fabrication (which can be an expensive procedure, particularly for small-scale devices such as devices having multiple optical elements on the scale of about 1 mm to 5 mm).

[0083] Preferably the OEU 326 is formed of a glass or plastic (e.g. polycarbonate, acrylic and the like) with the optics formed therein in predefined positions prior to assembly. Glass is preferred, when otherwise feasible, because it is relatively insensitive to temperature and water absorption (or other chemical attack) and can be joined to other components using higher temperature techniques such as solder reflow. In one embodiment, the OEU 1802 is joined to the periscope 1836 by an adhesive. Preferably, one or both of the interface surfaces such as the upper surface 1846 of the OEU 1802 has one or more channels or moats 2102, 2104 formed therein, e.g. by saw cuts or the like (FIG. 21). In one embodiment the width and depth of each moat is about 100 micrometers. In one technique, after the upper surface 1846 is placed in the desired alignment and positioned adjacent the lower surface of the prism or periscope 1836, an adhesive is introduced along the edges 2106, 2108 and allowed to “wick” or flow by capillary action, inwardly 2110, 2112. The moats 2102, 2104 receive any excess adhesive and prevent the adhesive from flowing inwardly substantially beyond the locations of the moats 2102, 2104 (since adhesive, inward of the moats 2102, 2104, could potentially interfere with the lenses 1810 or other optics).

[0084] In one embodiment, the optical die 326 is placed in the desired operable position with the aid of light from the laser diode 612. In this embodiment, the laser diode is connected to at least power and control circuitry prior to mounting of the optical die 326 and the silicon sub-mount 336 can be provided with power sufficient to provide the laser light output from the laser diode 612 and, optionally, to detect signals at a photo-diode or similar detector array (including those on the submount 1830). In one embodiment, positioning equipment for placing and mounting the optical die with respect to the submount 1830 involves monitoring characteristics of light transmitted through one or both of the beam shaping optics 352 a,b and/or servo optics 354 as the optical die 326 is moved and positioned. Preferably, the optical die 326 is mounted with respect to the spacers 332, 334 using well known techniques such as solder reflow. By using a procedure in which the optical die is positioned while light is being emitted from the laser (or other light source), and in which the position and/or focus or other characteristics of the light is used to guide optical-die-positioning equipment (preferably in a substantially automatic fashion, such as by using detected light to define a servo or control signal for the positioning equipment), the positioning of the optical die can at least partially compensate for various inaccuracies in the position of the laser (or other light source).

[0085] It is also possible to use an active alignment technique (i.e. using light from the laser to help in component placement, during fabrication) to at least partially compensate for inaccuracies in the relative position of the laser (or other light source) with respect to the photodector(s) 356. In one embodiment, after the optical die is positioned and fixed, the periscope block, preferably with the objective already mounted thereon, is positioned using active alignment. In one embodiment, a mirror is positioned near the objective (e.g. to mimic the reflection from the optical disk) and the periscope block is moved until the reflected light forms a desired or closest-fit pattern with respect to the photodetector(s). In at least one embodiment, it is believed that moving the periscope block is most feasible for positioning the reflected beam in a lateral direction (i.e. a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the optical arm). Accordingly, it is believed useful, in at least some embodiments, to select a type or configuration of photodetector(s) which is relatively insensitive to inaccuracies of beam placement in the longitudinal direction. In that way, the active alignment technique can be used to position the periscope block so as to provide the greatest accuracy of beam placement in the lateral direction, where the photodector(s) are most sensitive to inaccuracies.

[0086] Although it is possible, in some configurations, to position the optical die 326 prior to positioning of other components (such as the periscope 318, lens 312 and the like), in another embodiment, it is also possible to separately assemble some or all of the periscope 318 quarter wave plate 316, and/or lens 312 and the like to the optical die 326 prior to mounting the optical die 326 with respect to the spacers 332, 334. Regardless of the order in which the various components are aligned and mounted, embodiments of the present invention are believed to provide substantial benefits arising from employing wafer scale assembly techniques and/or multiple layer (stacking) assembly techniques to fabricate the optical head. By providing a relatively inexpensive and practical fashion for assembling an optical head to achieve a desired (and substantially static) alignment between components, the assembly of the entire drive 112 is simplified since critical alignment has already been performed during assembly of the optical head and relatively less critical or higher-tolerant assembly of the head to the arm 142 can be achieved, e.g., in a drive manufacturing or assembly plant at relatively low cost.

[0087] The periscope 318 is mounted, e.g., using solder reflow, adhesive or similar assembly techniques, to position the periscope mirror 322 in the desired position with respect to the optical die beam shaping optics 352 ab so as to reflect the beam in a horizontal direction 358, i.e., substantially parallel to the data surface of the disk 362. The polarization beam splitter 324 is, in the depicted embodiment, substantially parallel to the periscope mirror 322 (i.e. substantially at about a 45° angle with respect to vertical) and may be formed by a coating (PBS coating) placed on a surface of a first block of the periscope 318 preferably with the coated surface mating with a surface of an end block 364 of the periscope 318. The PBS 324 is selected or applied in such a fashion that the PBS will be substantially reflective with respect to the polarization of laser light as it arrives at the PBS (“first polarization”). Those of skill in the art will understand how to select or control polarization or polarization beam splitters in this fashion.

[0088] Accordingly, the PBS reflects the laser beam in a vertically upward direction (i.e. towards the disk 362, 366). The beam travels through the quarter wave plate 316 and thence through an objective lens 312 aligned with the quarter wave plate by the lens mount 314. The objective lens 312 is configured to substantially provide the desired spot size (focus) with respect to the read/write surface of the (preferably first surface) disk 362.

[0089] Although a number of sizes and shapes of devices can be used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, in the depicted device, the height 514 from the printed circuit board 338 to the lens 314 is about 2.9 mm. In one embodiment, the distance from the objective lens 312 to the surface of the disk 362 (defining the working distance for the optical system) is about 0.3 mm.

[0090] After reaching the disk 362, and depending on the portion of the disk illuminated and whether a data bit is present or absent at that position, light reflected from the disk 362 passes vertically downward to the objective lens 312 and quarter wave plate 316. At this point (e.g. because of passage twice through the quarter wave plate 316), polarization of the reflected light as it reaches the PBS coating is different from the first polarization and the PBS coating 324 is configured to allow substantially all of the reflected light to pass through the PBS coating and continue vertically downward, through the servo optics 354 and to the photo detector array 356.

[0091] A number of types of photo detector array can be used including quadrant detectors, +detectors and the like, and the type of servo optics 354 will be selected corresponding to the type of detector being used, as will be understood by those of skill in the art after understanding the present disclosure.

[0092] In one embodiment, the substrate 1830 is provided with first and second (“A” and “B”) optical detectors 2201, 2202 (FIG. 22) for detecting reflected light for use in providing focusing, tracking and/or data signals. In the depicted embodiment, each detector array includes three bar-shaped parallel detectors 2211, 2212, 2213, 2221, 2222, 2223. One advantage of the detector configuration having three parallel, bar-shaped detectors in the detector array, is that the output is relatively insensitive to the placement of or position of the beam in a longitudinal direction 2210. This means that there is relatively higher tolerance, during fabrication, for misalignments of optical components (mounting of the laser 1832, OEU 1802, periscope 1836 and/or lens 1854) which results in movement or misalignment of the reflected beam (at the detectors) in the detector longitudinal direction 2210, compared to those misalignments that cause movement or misalignment with a substantial component in a lateral direction (perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 2210). Relaxing tolerance requirements for at least some alignment parameters can assist in lowering fabrication costs.

[0093] Providing a two-detector scheme 2201, 2202 permits the use of a differential detection approach. Differential detection generally provides improved performance compared to non-differential (single detector array) schemes, at least in terms of reduced cross-talk (tracking-to-focus cross-talk or offsets resulting from distorted beams), since differential schemes tend to reject common-mode noise between the detectors. In one embodiment, tracking-to-focus cross-talk is less than about 0.25 micrometers peak-to-peak (p-p), preferably less than about 0.1 micrometers p-p. In one embodiment, track-to-track cross-talk is less than about 5%, preferably less than about 2%. A two-detector scheme working configuration as shown in FIG. 22 can be implemented by providing an SOE 1806 configured for receiving the reflected (“return”) light beam 1842 and creating first and second reflected beams 2302, 2304, e.g. as depicted in FIG. 23. As shown in FIG. 23, the first and second beams 2302, 2304 are directed so as to fall on regions of the first and second detectors 2201, 2202 (FIG. 22) respectively, defining first and second footprints of the beams 2203, 2204 thereon. Preferably, the first and second beams 2302, 2304 have different optical characteristics such as having different focal point or focal plane locations. It is possible to configure differential optical systems with the focal points of the first and second beams respectively on opposite sides of the detector plane 2314. In the embodiment of FIG. 23, however, both focal points 2306, 2308 are on the same side of the plane 2314 of the detectors 2202, 2201. The optical characteristics of the first and second beams 2302, 2304 differ by having the respective focal points 2306, 2308 at different locations, such as different distances, 2310, 2312, respectively, from the plane 2314 of the detectors. Providing different focal points 2306, 2308 of the first and second beams 2302, 2304 can be useful in a differential detection scheme for a number of reasons.

[0094] In one embodiment, a focus error signal (“FES”) for each of the detectors 2201, 2202 is obtained by combining signals from each of three parallel bar-shaped detector regions in each of the detectors 2211, 2212, 2213, 2221, 2222, 2223. According to one embodiment, a focus error signal for the first or “A” detector 2201, termed “FES_(A)”, is obtained by combining the negative or inverse of the signals from the outermost regions of the first array, i.e. A₁ 2211 and A₃ 2213 with the signal from the central region A₂ 2212. Expressed algebraically, FES_(A)=A₂−(A₁+A₃). Similarly, in this embodiment, a focus error signal for the second detector 2202 can be expressed as FES_(B)=B₂−(B₁+B₃). It can be seen that, in this fashion, the two FES signals from the two detectors 2201, 2202 are related to the sizes of the footprints of the beams 2203, 2204 which impinge on the detectors 2201, 2202. The sizes of the footprints 2203, 2204 will vary depending on the degree or amount of focus of the light spot on the medium 1856 (FIGS. 18), e.g., in a pivot-focus apparatus, as the optical arm (or a portion thereof) pivots 224 (FIG. 2).

[0095]FIGS. 24A and 24B are graphs depicting the magnitude of the FES_(A) and FES_(B) signals 2402 a, 2402 b, respectively, as a function of the magnitude or degree of focus at the medium. In one aspect, focus can be expressed as the distance 1862 (e.g. in micrometers) of the objective lens from the information layer 1864 of the medium 1856. One effect of providing different distances 2310, 2312 for the focal points 2306, 2308 of the first and second beams 2302, 2304 is that the configuration of the FES signals from the two detectors 2201, 2204, as a function of focus are different, e.g. as can be seen by comparing FIGS. 24A and 24B. Each of the individual FES signals 2402 a, 2402 b is substantially non-linear (highly curved) in the regions 2406 a, 2406 b near the desired or nominal focus. Such non-linearity makes it relatively difficult and/or inaccurate to use either of the focus error signals FES_(A), FES_(B) alone, as a control signal for controlling focus. However, as depicted in FIG. 25, when the negative or inverse 2404 of the FES_(B) signal 2402 b is combined with the FES_(A) signal 2402 a, the resultant combined focus error signal FES_(A)-FES_(B) 2502 is substantially linear in a capture range 2504 located about the nominal focus point 2506. Thus, the differential scheme as depicted, providing two different focus point distances, 2310, 2312 (in the depicted embodiment, both on the same side of the detector plane 2314) can assist in providing a substantially linear differential focus error signal, at least in a capture region 2504 which can be used for controlling a focus motor or actuator. In one embodiment, the capture region is the region within ±10 micrometers of the nominal focus. In one embodiment, the combined focus error signal FES_(A)-FES_(B) 2502 has a maximum departure from linearity (e.g. departure from a best-fit linearity) at any point within the capture region of less than about 10%, preferably less than about 2%.

[0096] In a similar fashion, a combined tracking error signal can be defined as TES=(A₁−A₃)+(B₁−B₃), and a combined data signal can be defined as Data=(A₁+A₂+A₃+B₁+B₂+B₃). In one embodiment, the combined focus error signal TES has a maximum departure from linearity (e.g. departure from a best-fit linearity) at any point within the capture region of less than about 10%, preferably less than about 2%.

[0097] If desired, both the FES and TES can be normalized to the total power in each signal, e.g. to reduce the effect of a signal amplitude change (such as due to disk reflectivity differences or beam vignetting, e.g. over actuator stroke, or similar effects). For example, normalized FES and TES signals can be provided as FES_(normal)=[(A₁+A₃−A₂)/(A₁+A₂+A₃)]−[(B₁+B₃−B₂)/(B₁+B₂+B₃)] and TES_(normalized)=[(A₁−A₃)/(A₁+A₃)]+[(B₃−B₁)/(B₁+B₃)]. The various combinations of signals from the regions of the two detectors can be combined in an analog or electronic fashion, or can be digitized and combined digitally (or a combination of both approaches).

[0098] In one embodiment, the relative size of the central element in each detector 2212, 2222 can be adjusted to reduce the cross-talk of the tracking signal TES into focus signals FES for different detector positions with respect to the object lens and/or different groove geometries of the medium 1856 (on media with a groove) or different pit geometries on media with premastered pits.

[0099]FIG. 12 illustrates one example of a manner of providing for communication of electrical signals to and from the optical head 128. Although the embodiment of FIG. 6 provided for the submount 336 to be positioned with respect to a printed circuit board 338, in the embodiment of FIG. 12, the submount 336 is accommodated in a cut-out 1212 formed in a flex circuit (e.g. a Kapton®-copper flex circuit) 338′. The flex circuit 338′ is preferably electronically coupled to the optics head 318 such as by forming wire bonds between optics head bonding pads 1216 and flex circuit bonding pads 1218 The flex circuit 338′ can be physically coupled e.g. by an epoxy or other adhesive, such as that sold under the tradename Epo-Tek H70E-2, available from Epoxy Technology, Inc. of Billerica, Mass. Some or all of the flex circuit or other components may be coated or encapsulated, e.g. for protection. The flex circuit 338′ preferably contains some or all electronics used for control and/or signal processing for the optics head 128. Other manners of providing for electrical communications to and from the optics head will be understood by those of skill in the art after understanding the present disclosure.

[0100] One of the significant factors in design of devices, according to embodiments of the present invention, relates to thermal management. Many laser diodes or other light sources can be significant heat sources. In addition, many electrical or electronic components, such as power supplies or conditioners, resistors, diodes, and other items, can add to the total heat load. It would not be unexpected to use a laser device having a power output near 200 milliwatts. Elevated temperature can damage, or degrade performance, of electronic components and/or media, both in a drive, and in a PED or other device which incorporates a drive. Lasers and other components may have performance characteristics which change, sometimes radically, as a function of temperature, and it may be difficult or expensive to adequately compensate for such changes. Further, products which perceptibly generate heat may have reduced commercial appeal. Previous electronic or electro-optical devices commonly used relatively large, heavy or power-consuming components, such as large and/or heavy heat sinks, fans and the like. The present invention, however, is preferably a low-profile (or otherwise small) device and is especially suited to (although not necessarily limited to) use in connection with PEDs or other small, lightweight, low-power devices. Accordingly, it is preferred to configure the optical head in a fashion to avoid concentrations or quantities of heat and/or to avoid elevated temperatures which might harm equipment or components or which might degrade performance. Preferably, in at least one embodiment, at least a portion of the underside of the flex circuit 338′ (preferably with the portion 1214 extending over some or all of the cut-out region 1212) has a coating or layer of a thermally conductive material, such as copper, e.g. to act as a heat sink or heat dissipater. In one embodiment, the submount 614 (if present) is formed of a substantially thermally conductive material, such as aluminum nitride or silicon carbide. The submount has a relatively large surface area (e.g. compared to the footprint of the laser diode 612 and/or mount 614) to effectively spread the heat, generated by the laser, over a relatively large surface area, avoiding concentrations of heat and undue (locally) elevated temperatures.

[0101] In addition to provisions for thermal management and electronic coupling of the optics head 128 to the arm 142, embodiments of the present invention also include provisions for mechanical mounting or coupling of the optics head 128 with respect to the arm 142. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 13, first and second arms 1312 a, b define a region 1313 for receiving an optics head. A plurality of flexible prongs 1314 a,b,c,d are coupled to the arms. The prongs have angled protrusions 1316 a,b,c,d configured to contact portions of the optics head when the head is in the region 1313. Once the optics head is positioned as desired (e.g. using mechanisms for gripping and moving the optics head), the protrusions can be fixed to portions of the optics head, e.g. using an adhesive, and preferably the prongs are stiffened or fixed, e.g. by coating with epoxy or other stiffening agent, possibly using an ultraviolet or other curing step.

[0102]FIG. 14 depicts an embodiment of the invention in which the detector 1412 is positioned outwardly of the mirror block 332. In this embodiment the PBS 1424 is positioned and configured to substantially reflect the light 1426 received from the laser source 1428 to a horizontal path 1432. The light is then reflected to a vertical path 1434 toward the objective 312 by a reflective surface 1438. The reflected light returns along a similar path 1434, 1432, but, having a changed polarization, is transmitted through the PBS 1424 along a horizontal path 1442, to be reflected downward 1444 toward the detector 1412 by a reflective surface 1446. In one embodiment the undersurface of the optics block 326′ in the region surrounding the path of the reflected beam 1444 is coated with an absorptive coating, such as non-reflective (black) chrome, to assist in protecting the detector 1412 from stray light. In one embodiment, an annular reflective coating is positioned on the lower surface of the optics block 326′ surrounding the position of the central portion of the beam 1426 in order to reflect the outermost annular portion of the beam downward 1446 to a feedback detector 1448 for controlling laser power. Other regions can be coated with absorptive or reflective coatings for controlling stray light, as will be clear to those of skill in the art after understanding the present disclosure.

[0103] Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 10. While FIG. 10 shares some features with the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6, in FIG. 10 the silicon (or similar) sub-mount 1036 on which the laser 1012 and detector 1056 are mounted is positioned in a substantially vertical attitude, i.e. in a plane perpendicular to the surface or plane of the disk 1062. An optical die 1026 is mounted spaced from the sub-mount 1036 by spacers 1032, 1034 and the turning mirror 1018 is a separate structure. Light from the laser 1012 passes through beam-shaping optics 1052 ab and into a mirror block 1022. The read/write beam is reflected by an interior PBS surface 1024, downward through a quarter wave plate 1016 and objective lens 1013 to the disk 1062. Reflected light, having its polarization altered, passes through the PBS 1024 and is reflected from a reflective surface 1023 through servo optics 1054 of the optics die 1026 to the photo detector 1056. Although a number of sizes and shapes of devices can be used in connection with the present invention, in one embodiment, the vertical height 1072 of the optics die 1026 and block 1022 is about 1.8 mm and the height 1074 of the quarter wave plate and mounted lens is about 1.02 mm. In one embodiment, the lateral dimension 1076 of the optics die 1026 and block 1022, is about 4.0 mm.

[0104] Another embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG. 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 16, the laser 612 and the photodetector 356, rather than being mounted on a separate chip or submount, are mounted on the lower surface of the optical die 326. In the depicted embodiment, regions of the lower surface of the optical die 326 are selectively metalized or coated, e.g. to provide reflective or absorptive regions e.g. for surrounding the photodetector 1512 to control stray light, and/or to define regions for coupling the photodetector 356, laser 612 or other components or circuitry. In one embodiment one surface of the laser diode is used for coupling leads 1514 and the like to provide power, data or control signals to and from the laser 612. In one embodiment, the free surface of the laser 612 can be directly coupled to a heat sink (including, if desired some or all of the optical arm), for effective thermal management. The configuration of FIG. 16 can not only provide for effective thermal management, but, by avoiding the need for a silicon board 338 or submount 336, can reduce the vertical height requirements, further promoting the low-profile nature of the optical head.

[0105] Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 26. In the embodiment of FIG. 26, a second beam splitting surface 2602 is provided as part of the periscope 2604 to provide for creation of first and second reflected beam paths 2606, 2608 for impinging on first and second detector arrays 2610, 2612. The embodiment of FIG. 26 can be compared with the embodiment of FIGS. 18 and 23. In FIG. 23, the SOE optic 1806 performs two functions: splitting the reflected beam 1842 into first and second beams 2302, 2304 and providing two different focus point distances 2310, 2312. Since the extra beam splitting surface 2602 (combined with the effect of the original beam splitting surface 324) results in two spatially-separated reflected beams 2606, 2608, it is no longer necessary to provide servo optics configured for performing a beam splitting function of the type depicted in FIG. 23. If desired, it is also possible to dispense with modifying or changing the optical power applied to the two reflected or return beams 2606, 2608 (thus making it possible to eliminate altogether any need for servo optics or other optic devices for the return or reflected beam paths 2606, 2608). For example, differential size measurement can be arranged as depicted in FIG. 27 showing one returning beam forming a virtual focus 2702 beyond the detector array 2612 and the second returning beam forming a real focus 2704 before the second detector array 2610. Since these foci 2704, 2702 are natural images of the spot at the disk (at the same distance from the disk as the apparent laser source point), no additional focusing power is needed and thus the SOE may be eliminated.

[0106] One advantage of eliminating an SOE (e.g. such as in the embodiment of FIGS. 26 and 27) is to assist in correction of laser pointing errors. When an OEU contains both outgoing beamshaper optics 1808, 1810 (FIG. 18) and returning or reflected beam optics 1806, adjustment of the OEU 1802, e.g. in order to correct a laser pointing error, will also move the SOE 1806. Such movement of the SOE 1806 can cause error (potentially uncorrectable) in registration of the SOE 1806 and the detector arrays 1844. If the SOE element 1806 can be eliminated, it is possible to adjust the mounting position of the OEU 1802, (e.g. to correct laser pointing errors) without also moving an SOE element. Any detector alignment required can be performed by other means, such as translation of the objective lens 1854.

[0107] In light of the above description, a number of advantages of the present invention can be seen. Using embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a beamshaper in a practical and feasible fashion which leaves at least one optical parameter substantially unchanged, in the optical path of a read/write device or other optical device, regardless of whether the beamshaper is present. The present invention makes it feasible to develop two or more optical path designs substantially simultaneously (e.g one with a beamshaper and one without) while avoiding some or all costs associated with completely designing two different systems. The present invention makes it feasible to provide different optical systems for accommodating variances in components (e.g. variations in laser characteristics), while reducing or avoiding costs associated with developing and using two or more completely different optical paths or systems. In one aspect it is economically feasible to provide a highly accurate beamshaper or other optical element by etching, or otherwise fashioning, one lens (or other) surface, measuring errors or imperfections in the shape or placement of the surface, and selecting, designing or modifying a second, aligned lens or other surface of the beamshaper so as to at least partially compensate for the errors or imperfections. Cost-feasibility can be further provided or enhanced by at least partially forming several optical elements simultaneously in a single optical element unit or block and/or by forming multiple optical element units simultaneously on a wafer (which is later sawed).

[0108] The present invention includes a recognition that a small spot size compatible with high data density (e.g. as facilitated by use of a first surface medium) makes it feasible to provide substantially all optical components in a small and/or lightweight package, e.g., such that tracking and/or focus can be performed by moving the entire optics package or head (as opposed to, e.g., moving just the objective lens). The present invention provides a device which is not only sufficiently small and lightweight to maintain all of the optics components in fixed positions with respect to one another, but also to provide these components with spatial extends in various directions, such as providing a small vertical (low profile) optical head so as to be compatible with the form factors of a type consistent with use in small and/or portable drives or host devices, e.g., personal electronic devices. The present invention can provide an optical head which is highly efficient such as by using an optical design which substantially avoids overfilling or otherwise spilling optical or other energy. The present invention provides a design in which some or all steps of fabrication can be performed in a relatively inexpensive fashion such as using techniques from wafer-scale fabrication technology and/or using a planar or stacking technique for assembling the optical head. One characteristic of an optical device such as that disclosed herein which contains multiple optical elements on various surfaces of one or more optical element units, is that the substantial majority of the optical path length from the laser source to the objective is through a solid (glass or other) medium, with only a minor portion being through air. In one embodiment, the percentage of the optical path from the laser source to the objective lens which is in a glass or other solid medium (as opposed to being through air) is greater than about 50 percent, preferably greater than about 75 percent, and more preferably greater than about 85 percent. In one embodiment, of a total optical path length (from the laser to the objective lens) of about 5500 micrometers, about 5000 micrometers of the path length is through the glass (or other solid) substance (e.g., the optical element unit 1802 and periscope 1836). About 450 micrometers of the total optical path is through air from the laser to the OEU 1802, with other portions of the path, through air, potentially occurring at the interface between the optical element unit 1802 and periscope 1836 and/or between the periscope 1836 (or quarterwave plate 316) and objective lens 1854.

[0109] The present invention provides a practical and feasible system in which substantially all components of the optical head from the laser or other light source to the objective move together as a unit (e.g. for focus and/or tracking), i.e. in which substantially each optical component of the optical head is in a fixed location with respect to other components.

[0110] In one embodiment, the optical head is based on a wafer-scale fabrication approach. Preferably, a silicon or similar wafer having electronics formed therein, in the normal fashion, has optical components stacked or otherwise positioned thereon, preferably at least some components being placed prior to slicing the wafer, to form the optical components of the optical head. In one embodiment, a first mirror/spacer level is positioned on the wafer and one or more levels of optics (generally proportioned similar to the proportions of the “chip” after wafer slicing) are positioned on the top of the spacers. In one embodiment, alignment of some or all optical layers above the spacer is performed while the laser source (preferably mounted on the wafer) is emitting laser light, and using the emitted laser light to assist in positioning or alignment.

[0111] In one embodiment, the read/write beam travels through one of the optics layers in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the disk. Providing a configuration in which a substantial portion of the optical path is parallel to the plane of the disk assists in providing a relatively low vertical profile. By providing a system which can use wafer-scale fabrication and which can be fabricated by stacking discrete components such as spacers, optical components and the like, it is possible to construct a small, high precision, low weight, low profile and/or small spot-size optical head at relatively low fabrication costs. As used herein, “read/write” refers to configurations that are used only for reading and to configurations that are used for both reading and writing.

[0112] In one aspect an optical head of a type useable in a optical disk reader/writer is provided. The optical head has a low profile, e.g., in a vertical direction parallel to the disk spin axis, such as less than about 5 preferably less than about 3 mm. Substantially all components of the optical system, including a laser source, objective lens, intervening optics and photo detector are provided in the optical head and mounted in a fixed position with respect to one another. Substantially all optical components of the optical head are moved as a unit, e.g., during tracking and/or focusing. Preferably, the optical head is fabricated using wafer scale and/or stacking technologies, e.g., stacking substantially planar components to achieve the final optical head configuration.

[0113] A number of variations and modifications of the present invention can be used. It is possible to use some aspects of the invention without using others. For example, it is possible to provide a beamshaper such that some optical parameters are invariant regardless of whether the beamshaper is used, without using an etch-measure-compensation procedure as described and/or without forming the beamshaper in a wafer scale procedure. It is possible to provide an optical head which is sufficiently small and/or lightweight that it becomes feasible to move the entire optical head (e.g. for tracking and/or focus) without using the wafer-scale and/or stacking fabrication techniques described herein. It is possible to use some or all aspects of the present invention in optical devices other than the described optical disk read/write device, such as using the invention in connection with a non-first-surface medium, using the invention in a DVD, DVD-ROM, CD, CDR and/or CD-ROM device, digital cameras, video cameras, or similar devices, and/or using the invention, in general, in any optical device where it is beneficial to provide two or more different optical paths or designs while reducing or avoiding costs associated with designing or developing two or more optical paths or designs.

[0114] In one embodiment, some or all of the optics depicted as being provided in, or on, a separate optics die 326 can be formed in or on the periscope or optical element unit 322, thus potentially making it possible to provide embodiments of the present invention which do not require providing or assembling a separate optical die 326 (i.e. placing a combined prism/optics component directly on the spacers 322, 324). Similarly, although embodiments are depicted in which substantially all optical elements (other than, perhaps, the objective lens and quarterwave plate) are formed in or on two units (the optical element unit and the periscope), it is possible to implement the present invention using three or more units to provide the optical elements. Although in embodiments depicted herein, a polarization beam splitter was used for discriminating emitted and reflected light, other techniques or devices for discriminating emitted and reflected light 1722 (FIG. 17) can be used including diffraction gratings, as will be understood by those of skill in the art after understanding the present disclosure. Although embodiments have been described in which a periscope application provides two changes of direction (vertical to horizontal and horizontal to vertical) (which can be of use in reducing the height profile, without unduly limiting optical path length), it is also possible to provide configurations in which multiple internal reflections between (typically parallel) surfaces (such as three or more) are used, e.g. for reducing an optical head profile. In some embodiments it may be preferable to configure the system such that the periscope prism (or other components of the stacked optical head) are substantially symmetric in configuration (e.g. to enhance manufacturability). Although embodiments have been described in which substantially all optics components of the optics head are fixed with respect to one another, it is also possible to provide operable configurations in which some components are movable. For example, it is possible to construct an operable device in which the objective lens is movable with respect to one or more components of the optics head, e.g. for fine (or coarse) focus, tracking or the like. Although embodiments have been described in which wafer-scale and/or stacking approaches are used, it is also possible to provide some or all optical components using integrated optics techniques, as will be understood by those of skill in the art after understanding the present invention. Although the optics head with periscope sections and/or with substantially all components being relatively non-movable has been described in connection with a device in which tracking is provided by rotation of an optics arm about an axis parallel to the spin axis, it is also possible to configure a device in which an optics head substantially as described herein is moved in other fashions, such as providing rails or similar devices for achieving linear (e.g. radial) tracking motion of the optical head. Although embodiments are described herein which have a diode 1712 (FIG. 17) or other laser as a light source, it is possible to provide embodiments of the present invention which use non-laser light, such as providing a superluminescent diode 1714, an incandescent, flourescent, arc, vapor or other light source. It is possible to provide, as the light source which is in the optical head, a light delivery component, such as the output 1716 of a fiber optic or other light conveyance device, which delivers, in or to the optical head, light generated by a laser or other light generator 1718 which may, if desired, be positioned remote from the optical head. Use of a fiber optic can assist in thermal management (e.g. by permitting a laser to be mounted remote from the optical head) and/or providing for circularizing a light beam.

[0115] The present invention, in various embodiments, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present invention after understanding the present disclosure. The present invention, in various embodiments, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g. for improving performance, achieving ease and/or reducing cost of implementation. The present invention includes items which are novel, and terminology adapted from previous and/or analogous technologies, for convenience in describing novel items or processes, does not necessarily retain all aspects of conventional usage of such terminology.

[0116] The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. Although the description of the invention has included description of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the invention, e.g. as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing an optical head in a read/write device comprising: positioning a light source with respect to an optical head substrate; positioning at least a first optical element along an optical path from said light source to an objective, wherein said optical path defines at least a farthest virtual source point; providing at least a first beamshaper in said optical path, wherein a farthest virtual source point of said optical path after said first beamshaper is provided is substantially the same as said farthest virtual source point before said first beamshaper is provided.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said beamshaper and said first optical element are positioned on a single integral optical element unit.
 3. A method, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first optical element is a non-beamshaper element.
 4. A method, for forming an optical element comprising: providing a first optical substrate; positioning at least a first photomask on a first surface of said optical substrate; etching at least a portion of said first surface to provide a first surface of said optical element; measuring said first surface of said optical element to determine errors in said first surface of said optical element; forming a second surface of said optical element in a second surface of said optical substrate, substantially aligned with said first surface of said optical element, wherein said second surface of said optical element is configured to at least partially compensate for said errors determined as a result of said measuring .
 5. A method, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of forming a second surface is performed by an etching process.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said errors include errors in the shape of said first surface of said optical element.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said errors include errors in the position of said first surface of said optical element.
 8. Optical head apparatus for use in a read/write device comprising: an optical head substrate; a light source positioned with respect to said optical head substrate; a first optical element positioned along an optical path from said light source to an objective; a second optical element in said optical path, wherein a first optical parameter of said optical path when said second optical element is provided is substantially the same as said first optical parameter before said second optical element is provided.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said second optical element is a beamshaper.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first optical parameter is a farthest position of a virtual point source of said optical path.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said beamshaper and said first optical element are positioned on a single integral optical element unit.
 12. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first optical element is a non-beamshaper element.
 13. Apparatus, for forming an optical element comprising: a first optical substrate; a first surface of said optical element formed on said optical substrate by etching at least a portion of said first surface using at least a first photomask; an optical surface measurement device which measures said first surface of said optical element to determine errors in said first surface of said optical element; and a second photomask, formed on a second surface of said optical substrate and configured for use in etching a second surface of said optical element, substantially aligned with said first surface of said optical element, wherein said second surface of said optical element is configured to at least partially compensate for said errors determined as a result of said measuring.
 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said errors include errors in the shape of said first surface of said optical element.
 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said errors include errors in the position of said first surface of said optical element.
 16. Optical head apparatus for use in a read/write device comprising: an optical head substrate; a light source means for outputting light, positioned with respect to said optical head substrate; a first optical means for modifying said light, positioned along an optical path from said light source means to an objective means; a second optical means for modifying said light, said second optical means positioned in said optical path, wherein a value of a first optical parameter of said optical path when said second optical means is provided is substantially the same as a value of said first optical parameter before said second optical means is provided.
 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said second optical means is a beamshaper.
 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first optical parameter is a farthest position of a virtual point source of said optical path.
 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first optical means and said second optical means are positioned on a single integral optical element unit.
 20. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first optical means is a non-beamshaper element.
 21. Apparatus, for forming an optical element comprising: a first optical substrate; means for positioning at least a first photomask on a first surface of said optical substrate; means for etching at least a portion of said first surface to provide a first surface of said optical element; means for measuring said first surface of said optical element to determine errors in said first surface of said optical element; means for forming a second surface of said optical element in a second surface of said optical substrate, substantially aligned with said first surface of said optical element, wherein said second surface of said optical element is configured to at least partially compensate for said errors determined as a result of said measuring.
 22. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said means for forming a second surface comprises means for forming by an etching process. 